HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-09-2020 CAC Minutes I Town of Lansing
2 Conservation Advisory Council Minutes
3 Monday, April 9, 2020 6:30 PM
4
5 Present via Zoom Excused
6 Robyn Bailey Andra Benson
7 Thomas Butler John Fleming
8 Karen Edelstein
9 John Greenly
10 Carrie Koplinka-Loehr
11 David Wolfe
12 Todd Walter
13
14 Other Staff via Zoom
15 C.J. Randall, Planning Director Sue Munson, Code Office
16
17 Public Present via Zoom Meetings
18 Osamu
19
20 Co-Chair Tom Butler opened the meeting at 6:31 pm
21
22 Public Comments via email to tolcodes@lansingtown.com
23 - No Public Comments by email while meeting was live streaming on youtube at
24 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs2FgU2xFnDyGS8DwXgoJwA
25
26 Update on proposed NYS Large-Scale Renewable Permitting (Article 23)
27 Article 23 is passed and now rules are going to be promulgated by the State most likely though
28 the Department of State.
29 - NY follows a type of administrative procedure after a law is created
30 - We have to wait and see how they will handle this new law
31 The Town of Lansing is now in a good position to correspond the Clean Energy siting folks at
32 NYSERDA. We will follow closely on their land-based renewables team. While, also paying
33 attention to the Ag and Markets are saying.
34
35 It looks like it will work out well in the end with the uniformity on taxation and host community
36 agreements.
37
38 The Town of Lansing's Resolution 20-62 is just a statement opposing the accelerated process
39 that the State is using to add growth of the renewable energies. It will assist and make clear
40 that the Town of Lansing wants to be involved in the process.
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41
42 The only thing the Town of Lansing can do is to keep reiterating our wants and concerns.
43
44 Natural Resources Inventory update
45 Presentation by Osamu Tsuda, Cornell Cooperative Extension
46 - He has talked to Jennifer Minner overseeing the Cornell Class and so far, the class has
47 completed their sections
48 - Osamu will start reviewing the completed work from the students and the work
49 completed from the CAC members.
50 - All work from the CAC listed below should be sent to Osamu by a deadline of April 24
51 - Karen Edelstein is interested in researching the spatial data on what Lansing has for tree
52 canopies. Natural Heritage Sites, Unique Natural Areas (Karen Edelstein working on),
53 Protected Open Space and Scenic Resources need some additions and all need more of
54 a back story to go with them
55 - Karen Edelstein will work on Slope and Topography, Bedrock Geology, Surficial Geology
56 and Soils
57 - David Wolfe is interested in working emphasizing of climate change on a specific natural
58 resource
59 - Robyn Bailey will check into the RFP for the Inventory grant. She will look into but won't
60 have time to write the grants
61 - All CAC members should look over the NRI in One Drive by April 171n. Note elements
62 that could be highlighted in a one-page executive summary. Osamu will make edits the
63 week of April 201n
64
65 Some of the list above may be changed a little depending on the areas covered by the students
66
67 Talked about a story map be the next step following the Open Space Inventory and the Natural
68 Resource Inventory.
69
70 The resolution quality from the student's work will be high resolution and be much easier to
71 read
72
73 The four different Modeling the Jennifer
74 - Should be ready towards the beginning of May.
75 - 1. Model for a Green Printing program — prioritizing lands for conservation
76 - 2. Assessing susceptibility to redevelopment and land use change
77 - 3. Determining ideal areas for new development incentive
78 - 4. Vulnerability in the face of Climate Change
79 Climate Smart Communities— next steps for priority actions
80 It is on the excel spreadsheet from Osamu sent on a link
81
82 - Tom Butler is working on a project by reviewing the Town of Lansing Comprehensive
83 Plan.
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84 It has a potential for 21 points with 5 required actions. All 5 required actions are
85 completed.
86 Tom has completed 5 other actions each action is 3 points.
87 1. Decrease the credits on fossil fuels and support renewable energy or fuel
88 efficiency
89 2. Foster the efficient use of natural resources for example water conservation
90 3. Promote the development or conservation of local food systems
91 4. Protect drinking water sources from pollution
92 5. Promote adaptation to climate change including strategies related to land use
93 and public education and engagement
94 Tom's work is documented by a series of attachments. It all agrees with what is listed in the
95 Comprehensive Plan.
96
97 Osamu will review and mark Tom's document as being completed
98
99 The Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Report. C.J. will send this out to everyone. It is also
100 located in the shared one drive. It shows what the Town of Lansing has accomplished.
101
102 The greenhouse gas information is being compiled by Charmagne in the bookkeeper's office.
103 She is aware of the Deadline of April 24, 2020.
104
105 Conserved parcels that are in the Town of Lansing that we would like to include. The Town had
106 to be a part of protecting the land. The Town of Lansing passed a resolution to support and
107 possibly protect the Bell Station Land, also documented in the Comprehensive Plan. Also, the
108 Sim's parcel —Cayuga Cliffs.
109
110 Planning Report
111 From: C.J. Randall, Director of Planning
112 CORE PLANNING FUNCTIONS
113 • Review and classification of development applications
114 o Continued review of Code/ Planning Department Standard Operating
115 Procedures with Code Clerk
116 • Data and GIS Services (thanks to Pat and ABS!)
117 o Prepared Code Clerk remote work laptop and Planning PC on 3/16
118 o Began development of draft virtual meeting protocol on 3/24
119 • Conservation Advisory Council staff support
120 o Reviewed Climate Smart Communities next steps for priority actions on 3/5
121 o Cornell Planning class presented work on the Natural Resources Inventory on 3/5
122 o Coordinated virtual meeting scheduling
123 • Planning Board staff support
124 o Coordinated and attended initial Project Review Committee meeting on 3/5
125 o Dormady— Hillcrest Subdivision
126 Preparation of requested options memorandum based on Project Review
127 Committee comments received on 3/5, 3/9
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128 o Collected comments on proposed COM Article 23 large-scale renewable siting/
129 Solar & Wind Local Law and prepared recommendation on 3/9
130 o Provided update on Town operations during coronavirus outbreak on 3/16
131 o Postponed 3/23 meeting to 4/13
132 • Agricultural Committee staff support
133 o Collected comments on proposed COM Article 23 large-scale renewable siting/
134 Solar & Wind Local Law and prepared recommendation on 3/2
135 o Provided update on Town operations and during coronavirus outbreak on 3/16
136 o Provided regular updates on coronavirus agricultural resources
137 • Zoning Board of Appeals staff support
138 o No March meeting
139 Interdepartmental Infrastructure Coordination
140 o Assisted Town Attorney and Town Clerk with preparation of appointed board
141 training Local Law on 3/10
142 o Attended Water & Sewer Advisory Board meeting on 3/2
143 o Attended coronavirus department head meeting on 3/16
144 o Postponed 3/24 Parks, Recreation, and Trails Committee meeting
145 o Coordinated with Town Engineers and consulting engineers regarding RBC
146 system at Lansing Residential Center on 3/10
147 o Collaborated with NYS OCFS and TST BOCES and Library regarding Lansing
148 Residential Center on 3/6, 3/9 and 3/17
149 o Coordinated with Tompkins County Business Energy Advisers regarding proposed
150 Town Highway building renovations on 3/4
151 Coordinated review of the draft information sharing access agreement for FEMA/
152 Tompkins County Hazard Mitigation Plan on 3/2
153 • Attended Tompkins County Planning Advisory Board (PAB) meeting on 3/10
154 o Reviewed 8-year Agricultural District#1 update
155 o Discussed the Costs and Benefits of Southern Tier 8 (ST8) membership
156 • Attended Cornell Office of Community Relations briefing on 3/19
157 • Attended TCAD Economic Development Collaborative meeting on 3/26
158 o Corresponded with FoodBIP (Business Incubation Program)
159 • Coordinated with Tompkins County Area Development regarding Appalachian
160 Regional Commission POWER grant on 3/11, 3/17, and 3/24
161 • Coordinated application for William G. Pomeroy Foundation's New York State
162 Historic Marker Grant Program for Peter Wheeler on 3/2 and 3/18
163 LAND USE POLICY WORK PROGRAM
164 • Land Use Ordinance Update
165 o Continued Land Use Ordinance Audit with Appendix of Questions on 3/9
166 • Prepare amendments to Solar Energy Local Law
167 o Solicited comments from Tompkins County Soil & Conservation District on 3/2
168 o Disseminated comments from Tompkins County Planning & Sustainability on
169 3/11
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170 o Disseminated information to Town boards/committees/councils regarding on
171 proposed shift from PSC Article 10 Siting Board process to COM Article 23
172 process on 3/2, 3/9, 3/10, 3/20, 3/23
173 • Environmental Protection Overlay Districts
174 o Scope of work and schedule of adoption forthcoming
175
176 Adjourned Meeting
177 Meeting adjourned at the call of the Co-Chair Thomas Butler at 7:51 pm.
178
179 Minutes taken and executed by Sue Munson.
180
181 Access to public documents are available online at:
182 Conservation Advisory Council Email tolcodes@lansingtown.com
183
184 Town Website https://www.lansingtown.com
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